Sad-Happy

 

SAD:   A VERY large dog made its way to our farm yesterday … uninvited.  It killed two chickens (Wyandotte & Rhode Island Red), injured two Wyandotte’s so badly they were put down, and a fifth (Rhode Island Red) may not live through her injuries. My FIL came upon the scene, caught the dog, and put it in the shop. My MIL called the sheriff (he can’t do anything in animal situations) and the neighbors.  The visiting relative of a neighbor is the dog’s owner, so thankfully the dog doesn’t live in the area.  She felt awful and offered to reimburse me for the loss. 

Uffda, it’s tough to loose animals and pets.  We have all become attached to our chickens … they come running when they hear us, they give us eggs, and eat tons of bugs.

HAPPY:  The reimbursement will be used to replace the lost hens.  I called to order Delaware’s, but apparently all hatcheries are out.  So, I asked about Ameraucanas and to my surprise, they are available! 

Last spring, when I ordered, I had wanted to purchase Ameraucanas, which lay tinted blue or green eggs.  None were available until June, and not wanting to wait that long, Barred Rocks were ordered instead.  Now that laying hens need to be replaced, I called a company that ships a minimum of 15 – that’s all I can handle at this time.  A call will be placed on Friday to determine when the 15 pullet chicks will arrive.  So, here we go again…

Also, I’ve been regretting not ordering a cockerel.  I can’t help but feel this attack may have been averted if we’d have had a guard rooster in the coop.  Maybe the hens could have gotten away … maybe the rooster would have fought off the dog …   BUT, I believe one of the Barred Rock’s is actually a cockerel.  This chick developed a comb and wattle faster than the other four, and the coloring is lighter, greyer than the others.  Only time will tell!

23/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

I do apologize if you are tired of these pictures.  In my defense, this is my journal of progress!  And my mom wants to see…

So, this is the progress made on Thursday.  Did I mention the crew arrives around 10am and stays until around 8pm on the days they’re working out here? 

Goofy boy.  Sliding around on his belly after a race car…why he is only wearing one sock?  I cannot explain.

Finished skirt, other projects just sitting, calling, beckoning, but just sitting.

Summer reading stacks for Dash and Angelina.

Registration time … the 4-H projects near completion.

The last few tomato plants NEED to get planted.

More noticeable progress on Friday.  Really cool to see, but a very dusty project today as they added sand to the cracks and used a packing machine to set it in place.!  The trees and flowers look a sickly grey from the dust.  Dare I ask for a gentle rain to uncover everything … and water the garden??

I went out to take photos and look who followed! 

Odds and ends and starts

 

1. Zeke doesn’t slice his apples or peel his oranges in the normal way … wish I had a picture to help explain … he likes to use a paring knife to cut little slivers and chips from each.  He’ll actually cut the peeling off the orange.  I think this is some sort of fascination with knives.  Maybe he needs a pocket knife.

2. The Missouri River crest was lowered 1 foot!!!  This is awesome news.  Also, it is theorized (they could check this … why they don’t is beyond me) that the river, which is usually only 20 feet deep at it’s deepest, has actually cut down to 40 feet.  The pictures are amazing right now, but THAT will be a sight to see when the water eventually recedes.

3. Progress is being made on the patio! 

4. I almost given up hope that my second clematis had survived our winter.  In fact, I was on my way out to plant sweet peas in it’s spot … and THIS is what I found.

5.  Three meals of lasagna for the freezer.  One will most likely end up being a meal for someone else … lots of babies being born in the next month or so.

 

6.  We are getting a dog.  A black lab cross, she’d about 2.5 to 3 years old.  Of course, this is all dependent upon our being approved (I didn’t know you had to be approved!). 

The kids (Angelina, Zeke, Graham) and I stopped at the Humane Society after swimming on Tuesday to check the dogs available.  We’d seen pictures on Monday at the grocery store that looked promising.  We came away interested in two that seemed to be of similar temperament and about the same size.

Yesterday, Eric took the kids to swimming and stopped by to see the dogs again afterwards.  We wanted the kids to be able to spend a little more time with the dogs …

Eric started the adoption process.  Our plan is to pick her – current name is Sheba, but we’d like to change that – up next Friday.  However, if we pick her up earlier that’s fine, too. 

Then, Eric and the kids stopped to purchase necessities and not-so-necessities!  He generally comes back with more than I would …which the kids consider awesome.

7. Dash mowed our lawn for the first time.  He didn’t have time to do the whole front, but the back looks much better now that it’s all one length.

Wednesday DayLook: June 8, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... it’s cloudy, windy and overcast.  The yard is quite green – it could actually stand to be mowed for the first time - and the patio is not done yet.

I am thankful... that my hubby was able to figure out what was causing all the flat tires on his air seeder.  After the fourth flat and with few good days to plant, it was getting a little frustrating!  Thank goodness we finished planting on Tuesday (thanks to hired help on Monday and Tuesday).

I am reading… newspapers.  I’m also listening to the unabridged version of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ by Madeleine L’Engle in the evenings – one or two chapters – with the kids.  I do remember enjoying her books as a kid.

I am hearing... nothing much exciting.  The wind and the hum of the computer.

I am wearing… jean shorts and a pink polo shirt.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… Angelina is making progress on her sewing projects: a shirt and pajamas.

From the school room... Yes!!! Dash finished up his last report.  I am done grading papers for the summer.  It can be concluded that Dash and Angelina are ready for a writing break and I am ready for a correcting break.  However, the work was worth it, as when compared to the beginning of the year, each has improved their skill level in grammar and composition.

Also wrote up summer reading lists for Dash, Angelina and Zeke.  Zeke in particular needs my attention over the summer; he needs the reading hours/minutes.

From the kitchen... need to get back to menu planning.  The last couple months have found us flying by with mac ‘n’ cheese (shudder!) and pizza (really!) and even corndogs (slacker!!).  It’s time to get a little healthier – that means menu planning for me.  I actually planned out the whole month of June; it just helps to have the ideas down on paper…even if I don’t stick to it exactly.

I’ve also been making meals or partial meals to freeze.  The end of the month is hectic and I just need some quick items to thaw and get on the table.

From the Garden…  a few more tomatoes are ready to plant, as are the last of my cabbage.  I opened a few of the hotcaps.  Most plants were REALLY thriving

… a couple were dead.  This happens, I’m not sure what caused their demise.  At least I know it wasn’t cutworms (I remembered to wrap newspaper around the stems).  Two more patio pots to get planted.  One with a cherry tomato and herbs, the other with annuals.

The onions look particularly nice this year because they were planted in early April.  The bed below has green beans around the perimeter and a couple square feet of carrots in the center.

From the FarmYard… lost a chick last week.  We are hoping Princess Leia (rabbit) sets up a nest in the next couple days, but I am not holding out much hope.  I think we’ll have to introduce her to Chubby again, after Achievement Days.

The first Wyandotte who sported a Hen Saver has regrown all her feathers, so we took the Hen Saver off.  Angelina says she has remained feathered, so the poor habits may have been broken!

A successful moment… the 50th Anniversary celebration invites for my in-laws were sent this weekend and a few more details were filled in for the big day.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Angelina, Zeke, and Graham started swimming lessons (every day for two weeks).  TKD in the evening.

Tuesday: My mom’s birthday!

Wednesday: Dash drives this afternoon.

Thursday: TKD

Friday:  Dash’s last driving session this afternoon.

Saturday/Sunday:   We are entertaining friends on Saturday and our final 4-H meeting before Achievement Days is on Sunday. 

A picture memory...

Zeke and his instructor (above and below)

Below:  Angelina is on the far left.  She tested on Tuesday before class to see if she could move up to the next level and was moved up to Level 4.

Graham is in the lower left corner (dark blue with white and red flowers).  Last year, he just didn’t want to get in the pool.  While he took a little coaxing, he’s not doing so much better.  He really doesn’t like to let go on his own, but will if asked.  Cautious … healthy respect for water.

St. Francis in the flower garden.  The rose is a Morden rose bush …. may favorite in any color.  I need to weed this bed.

Eric and Dash were doing a bit of re-arranging in the outside garage.  Time to store the snowmobiles for the summer and get the run-around vehicle into a better location. 

Tuesday Tea Talk

So, tonight I’m posting my answers to Jamie’s queries on my blog.  It’s just easier!! 

1.  You are at the doctors office and have just been informed you have 1 month to live.

a) Who do you tell?  I’d tell my family first, then priest, then friends. 

b) What do you do with your remaining days?  I suppose I’d try to fit in a few of those things I’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t taken the time to do.  But, in reality, I’d want to be in my home … in my yard … with my family.  Maybe all my family would come to the farm and we’d have a party and talk about memories … go through pictures … talk about when we were young. 

I think I’d still use this blog as a way to record everything because this is like my journal, but I don’t think I’d keep it public.  I would make sure my kids had a copy because it’s become such a memory book of our lives … good, bad, challenging, etc.

c)  Would you be afraid?  I’ve tried to think about this, but it’s really hard to put yourself in that position unless you are actually there.  I’m not sure … I’d like to think I won’t be afraid.  I would worry about my family who would be left without me.  Life will be harder for them initially.

2.  What is the one thing about yourself you like best?  I honestly haven’t ever thought about the one thing I like best … maybe that if it needs to get done, I just up and DO IT without waiting around.

3.  What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?  This is an easy one … read!

4.  What do you do when the clock turns 10:10?  Can’t say I’ve ever seen 10:10 on the clock before and remembered!

5.  Hamburger or cheeseburger?  Grilled or Fried?  Grilled hamburgers, but if we are doing the grilling at home, there is always a slice of cheese added before that first bite.

Happy Birthday, Angelina!

Yep, my only girl is now 11!  All smiles at the thought of getting an ice cream cake for her birthday (even easier than Graham!!).  She’s changed a lot in the past year … helpful always, getting taller (still hard to find jeans to fit!), and a beautiful smile.

Blowing … and they’re all out in one long breath!

An engraved ring from Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres.

Nail polish and lip gloss …

Pretty purple jeans from Tante Lori

American Girl goodies from Mom, Dad and her brothers.  Grandma & Grandpa Golden Acres gave her the Pretty Petals craft kit.